Category Archives: News

New music – Floorplan: The Master’s Plan (Classic Music Company)

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by Ben Hogwood

Robert and Lyric Hood announce the release of their fourth studio album The Master’s Plan, landing on Luke Solomon’s Classic Music Company imprint on Friday 21 June. Spanning 18 crafted house and techno tracks, Robert and Lyric playfully juxtapose the light and dark of their signature sound, navigating a spectrum of genres and styles on this highly anticipated body of work.

Robert recognises the uplifting qualities of their music, saying, “In these troubled times, we are grateful to be able to share our music with the world. Especially the dance community. We hope this album will uplift and invoke you to dance.” Meanwhile daughter Lyric comments, “I want people to feel inspired and empowered, but most of all to feel the love of God and his connection in every track. This album was made for the fans that love house music as much as we do.”

The album features Detroit trio Dames Brown, Eunice Hood (Earthtone) and Lowell Pye, while Honey Dijon appears on Fake & Unholy. Feel It is the final piece of the pre-release jigsaw, with a deep beat and typically strong riff typical of Floorplan’s best – not to mention the uplifting, gospel qualities that sit at the centre of their music.

Luke Solomon, Classic’s founder, says “The combination of wonderful people and wonderful music is always the absolute top for me. Floorplan are an unstoppable force that stay in their lane and deliver dancefloor music in a way that no one else can, but beyond that they are special human beings and I am beyond grateful to be able to call them Classic family.”

Published post no.2,194 – Thursday 30 May 2024

New music – BEAK: >>>> (Invada & Temporary Residence Ltd)

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by Ben Hogwood

Beak> have delivered a surprise release of their first album in six years today. The aptly titled >>>> is released by Invada and Temporary Residence Ltd

The band – Geoff Barrow (of Portishead), Billy Fuller (Robert Plant’s Sensational Space Shifters) and Will Young (Moon Gangs), explained the reason for their surprise delivery.

“At its core we always wanted it to be head music (music for the ‘heads’, not headphone music), listened to as an album, not as individual songs. This is why we are releasing this album with no singles or promo tracks.”

They have also spoken about the genesis of >>>>. “The recording and writing initially began in a house called Pen Y Bryn in Talsarnau, Wales in the fall out from the weirdness of the Covid days. Remote and with only ourselves and the view of Portmeirion in the distance we got to work. With the opening track, “Strawberry Line” (our tribute to our dear furry friend Alfie Barrow, who appears on the album’s cover) as the metronomic guide for the album, we then resumed recording, as before, at Invada studios in Bristol, whilst still touring around Europe and North/South America. After playing hundreds of gigs and festivals over the years we felt that touring had started to influence our writing to the point we weren’t sure who we were anymore. So we decided to go back to the origins of where we were at on our first album. With zero expectations and just playing together in a room.“

Arcana will be reviewing the new album shortly.

Published post no.2,192 – Tuesday 28 May 2024

New music – Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan: A Shared Sense of Purpose (Castles In Space)

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by Ben Hogwood

Published post no.2,176 – Sunday 12 May 2024

Elgar Festival Fundraiser – ‘Keep the Music Playing’

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The Elgar Festival (27 May – 2 June) is working with a 40% funding cut
from Arts Council England

In this short film, Festival Patron Julian Lloyd Webber introduces the Fundraising Campaign:

The Festival is raising money to help deliver its 2024 iteration, due to a 40% funding cut from Arts Council England

Donations are valuable in helping to continue the legacy of one of England’s most revered composers. As the festival’s organisers say, “We believe Elgar is for everyone and our developing range of events are for people of all ages, interests, and lifestyles.”

For full information, visit The Elgar Festival website

Published post no.2,151 – Wednesday 17 April 2024

New music – Floorplan: What A Friend (Classic Music Company)

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by Ben Hogwood

Floorplan take another step along the road in their relationship with Classic with a powerful club track, What A Friend.

Previous releases on Luke Solomon’s label have been well received –  We Give Thee Honor has done particularly well on UK radio, while Like Dat was a strong club track. Robert and Lyric Hood have also been busy on stage, at Brunch Elektronik in Barcelona, The Warehouse Project in Manchester and Igloofest in Montreal.

What A Friend has the familiar chopped vocal samples with tough, four to the floor beats, deliverng a strong blend of tougher techno and gospel tinged woth euphoria. You can listen below:

Published post no.2,145 – Thursday 11 April 2024